Fable of the Rouge Tails

Chapter Four

Not everybody could eat ramen every day like him, it seemed, and Naruto found himself at Ichiraku's chatting amicably with Teuchi-san between gigantic bites of the broth-soaked noodles. It was mid-afternoon, the sun beginning its slow descent towards the horizon, but Naruto for the life of him couldn't think of exactly what to do to occupy the rest of his day. Sasuke had gone home to eat something "other than ramen," the blasphemous Uchiha, and Kakashi-sensei was nowhere to be found. Naruto supposed he could go find one of the other rookie teams and see how they were doing, but the faint, looming cloud of depression that had followed him since the end of their debriefing left him feeling lethargic and unmotivated. All he really wanted to do was absolutely nothing.

He paid off his tab with a small smile to Teuchi-san and a wave to Ayame-chan, before pushing his seat away from the bar and making his way out of the ramen stand. Ocean blue eyes turned upward, scanning the cloudless sky for a few moments, before settling upon the massive Hokage Monument in the distance. Shrugging to himself, he made off in that direction at a slow pace, weaving between the civilians perusing the markets and restaurants with a practiced ease.

He felt their stares on his back as he walked along, seemingly more intense than before they left on their mission to Wave, but ever since he graduated from the Academy their comments had become less and less frequent. That was good, at least. Naruto slipped into a dark alleyway and leaped upward, landing lightly upon one of the roofs and using the gained height to glance around once more. Even from atop the roof, the crowds of the market seemed like a single mass, ebbing and flowing as people went about their daily rituals.

Civilians had it easy, he mused, watching them with a neutral expression. Sure, they experienced loss just as everybody else did – but they hardly had to watch one of their precious people get cut down before their very eyes. Naruto winced at the sudden, dark path his thoughts had turned towards; He blinked away tears from the corners of his vision and turned from the crowds, bouncing from roof to roof as he made his way closer to the familiar faces of the Hokages, both past and present.

Naruto barely stumbled when he lost the feeling in his left leg mid-leap, landing on his right while enforcing his muscles and tendons with chakra and smoothly tucking into a roll upon impact. With narrowed eyes he focused and dispelled the interfering chakra in his tenketsu, pins and needles shooting from his hip downward as his chakra flow resumed. He was getting a lot quicker in that regard, at the very least. His progress still didn't stop him from muttering a few choice words at the fox under his breath, soon finding himself at the base of the Hokage Monument.

He craned his head back and peered up at the nearly-vertical surface, the face of the mountain delicately carved into the likeness of the leaders, protectors, and strongest shinobi of the village. He pressed a hand flat against the stone, warmed by the afternoon sun, and tugged back as he applied just enough chakra to adhere himself to the surface. When the connection remained steady, he repeated the process with his remaining limbs, and smiled to himself as he began to scale the mountain slowly but surely.

Halfway up the mountain, the chakra channeled to his hands abruptly cut off, and Naruto unceremoniously began to fall backward, barely hanging on by the chakra channeled to his feet.

"Shit, shit, shit!"

His back collided with the rock with a meaty thump, knees bent at an uncomfortable angle as he remained stuck to the surface while upside down. He focused on the tenketsu in his arms, trying to desperately find where the fox had cut off his circulation – in the middle of climbing a fucking mountain! - when his right foot lost traction and he began to slowly slide down, the grip he had with his one remaining limb unable to counteract the effects of gravity. Naruto swore several more times until he finally found the tenketsu disable in his arms, restoring chakra flow with a surge of adrenaline. He contorted his body into a bridge and stuck his hands to the rocky surface, allowing his legs to roll through and his unhindered leg to coil like a spring against the rock.

His heart pounded against his chest as he focused on his unresponsive leg, struggling to restore function to it for several agonizing seconds. The moment he did, he glued his feet to the mountain with chakra, and released his hands to quickly form a hand sign.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Two clones appeared promptly on either side of him, adhering to the mountain in a similar fashion and looking at their creator with a hint of concern.

"You good, Boss?" One asked, pressed against the surface like a lizard. The original Naruto nodded his head, grumbling angrily at the Kyuubi once more.

"Yeah, yeah. Just make sure you catch me if the fuzzy bastard tries that again."

Just as the words left his mouth, Naruto's flow of chakra ceased, and he began to plummet downward.

"SON OF A BI-"

Acting quickly, both of his clones grabbed him by the ankle, stopping him from falling while they clung to the wall with their remaining limbs. Naruto's momentum wasn't stopped, however, and with a cringe-inducing crack the back of his head collided with the unyielding stone of the mountain. Stars flashed before his eyes and Naruto knew no more.

Oooooooooooooooooooooo

"Do you think he's dead?"

"Would we still be here if he was, dumbass?"

"Hey, no need to be mean! We're clones. So if I'm a dumbass, so are you."

"Yeah, but if we're dumbasses, then so is the Boss."

"Well, I mean. He did take a pretty bad hit to the head. Maybe we're concussed by association?"

"Is that even possible?"

A pause. Then, a soft pop, and Naruto's eyes opened abruptly.

"Hey, no fighting within the ranks!" Naruto barked as he sat up. He frowned, eyes narrowing as he looked at the one remaining clone.

"Oh, Boss! We uh. Didn't know you were awake yet." His clone replied sheepishly, scratching the back of his head.

"I wasn't. So, how do I know that you were fighting while I was out?" He asked, looking at the dissipating cloud of smoke a few feet away.

"That's... A really good question, actually. I don't know?"

"Thanks. You're helpful."

"No problem, Boss!"

The original Naruto sighed heavily, looking around at his new surroundings. He was sitting atop the Yondaime's head, on the top of the Hokage Monument. Well, they made it up there, at least. Even if he wasn't awake for it.

"I guess I could ask Hokage-jiji or Kakashi-sensei about it." Naruto mused aloud, the clone nodding along with him. He turned away from his clone, peering out over the village with a soft smile. If the crowd in the markets looked like a single mass from atop the roof, they looked like a colony of ants from atop the monument. He could spy a few shinobi bouncing along the roofs as well, making no effort to hide their presence in their home village. It put things in perspective, the view from above.

Situated against the base of the mountain beneath him, Naruto could see the Academy, where the future generations trained to join the rank of shinobi and where – just above the Academy – the Hokage himself worked, protecting the village even from behind piles of paperwork. The looming presence of Hokage Rock emphasized the role the Hokage played, a watchful protector at all times, guardian of the current and future generations.

Naruto smiled sadly as he was reminded of his dream, unable to picture himself underneath the Hokage's hat anymore. If he couldn't protect Sakura-chan, how could he protect the entire village? He had a long way to go before he deserved that title. But, he was still only a Genin. He had plenty of time to train, to learn, to better himself in every way he could before he got to take the hat from the old man and let him settle down peacefully into retirement. It would be a long, uphill battle, but it would be worth it – to finally earn the respect of the village, civilians and shinobi alike, and serve them as the Hokages before did.

The Hokage was more than just a position of power in the village. It was a position of sacrifice – to be willing to put one's own life on the line to protect the village as a whole. Naruto chuckled with morbid amusement as the thought occurred to him. He was already a Jinchuriki – a human sacrifice - of the most vicious of the Bijuu, at that, even if the Kyuubi didn't seem to be all that malevolent. Sinister, sure, but certainly not the fire and brimstone that he heard and read about. He made a note to ask the fox about that when he got the chance, but Naruto doubted that the line of questioning would really go anywhere.

With a sigh, Naruto swung his legs back and forth, dangling them over the edge of the monument. He really had been doing far too much thinking as of late – it was starting to give him a headache. He wasn't used to being so introspective, but after the past few days, he had to turn /somewhere/ - even if it was inward for a little self examination. His heart still ached every time he thought of Sakura-chan, bitter tears and angry flashes shooting through him like an electric current, but each time it hurt less and less – the raw heat beginning to temper into a cool, hard resolve.

The funeral service was tomorrow, he remembered suddenly, caught up in the moment of climbing the Hokage Monument and his own wandering thoughts. Unbidden, a growl rumbled within his throat, and he cast his blue eyes towards the horizon to see what time it was. The sun was starting on its downward descent – the shops below would be closing soon. An idea beginning in his mind, Naruto pushed himself to his feet, stepping away from the edge of the monument and walking towards the path that led down the mountain side. He definitely didn't want to risk a repeat of his ascent of the mountain.

His remaining clone must have agreed with his sentiments, and dispelled himself after a few moments, seeing that he was no longer needed. Naruto gave a slight twitch as the sudden memories disrupted his train of thought, but he shook his head and began to jog down the mountain path, an idea beginning to solidify in his mind.

Ooooooooooooooooooooo

Naruto approached Yamanaka Flowers with more than a little trepidation. He hadn't spoken with any of the other Rookie Nine since they returned to Konoha, but he had no doubt that they had heard about the events of the mission by now. Steeling himself, he stepped through the doors, a faint chime announcing his arrival. Immediately he was hit by the fragrance of dozens of flowers, from sweet and subtle to heady and musky. He sneezed, unable to help himself, his sensitive nose – although not nearly on par with an Inuzuka's – overwhelmed by the sudden aromas.

He glanced back up and made his way to the counter, where an ash-blond haired man stood, glimpsing through a ledger and what seemed to be a book on flowers. He looked up as Naruto approached, offering a kind smile to the Genin. Blue-green eyes lit up with recognition, but Inoichi simply closed the ledger he was reading through and leaned against the counter.

"Uzumaki Naruto, correct?" He asked. "You were in my Ino-chan's class in the academy."

Naruto nodded his head, a bit thrown off by the sudden questions. "Y-Yeah. I was kinda hoping she'd be able to help me pick out some flowers for an arrangement or something." He ducked his head, glancing shyly at the ground – he liked plants, but he knew nothing about floral arrangements, or bouquets, or the like. It was new territory for him, and all the years of being looked down upon in the academy for not knowing the answers to one question or the other, combined with the villagers' hostility, made him more than a little anxious when asking about something new.

"Ah, I see." Inoichi nodded his head, looking thoughtfully at the boy. The Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi no Kitsune was certainly someone he had heard about – through the gossiping of various Jonin, or during particularly interesting cases that the Hokage brought in to the Konoha Intelligence Division – but he had only seen brief glimpses of the boy himself when he was picking up Ino from the Academy, or while on his own patrols through the city. He seemed like a decent kid, loyal to a t, if a bit hyperactive at times. He definitely wasn't the demon that the villagers thought he was, despite the nature of the beast contained within the belly. Plus, some of his pranks during his academy years were rather amusing.

All that Inoichi could see, though, was a hurting and anxious young boy with bright blond hair and ocean blue eyes – frighteningly similar to Namikaze Minato's own – mustering up the courage to ask about something he knew nothing about, to someone he knew nothing about. He also saw a very brave boy asking a father for the assistance of his daughter, but gut instinct told Inoichi that the last thing on Naruto's mind was how beautiful of a young lady his daughter was developing into.

It didn't take a mind reader (or skilled interrogator) to determine that Naruto was genuinely interested in his self-appointed task, as well as genuinely worried about being turned down, but it certainly helped Inoichi make his decision all the quicker. With a warm expression he stepped out from behind the counter, moving towards a door that led to a back room.

"I'm sure Ino would be happy to help you out, Naruto. Let me go see if she's available – I had her doing some inventory, but she should be done by now."

The blond Genin nodded, stepping back to wait patiently by the counter. The Jonin returned a few moments with Ino in tow, a curious expression on her face that quickly turned into one of recognition as pale blue eyes fell upon bright blue ones.

"O-Oh! Naruto!" She quickly stepped closer to the sheepishly smiling Naruto and enveloped him in a sudden hug. Naruto tensed, going completely rigid in her grasp, before he forced himself to relax and return the hug.

"I'm so sorry to hear about what happened, Naruto..." She whispered, her own voice cracking a little as she spoke. She and Sakura may have grown a bit distant as their shinobi careers advanced – partly due to their rivalry for Sasuke's affections, and partly due to being on separate teams and not getting to see each other as often – but Ino still considered the pink-haired genin one of her close friends, and after hearing about the disaster their mission turned into... Well, Naruto certainly wasn't alone in his suffering.

After another moment Naruto awkwardly retreated from the hug, ducking his head a little bit. His bangs hung over his dulled eyes, hiding the tears brimming along the corners of his vision. "T-Thanks, Ino." He replied, his voice a little hoarse, before he gathered himself together once more and straightened just a little. "I uh... Wanted to buy some flowers for the memorial tomorrow." He murmured, blinking a few times before meeting her eyes. Ino looked a little surprised at the announcement, but quickly nodded her head, grabbing Naruto by the hand and leading him further into the store.

Inoichi smiled sadly to himself as he watched the two delve further into the store, returning to the counter and his ledgers. At least they would be able to comfort each other. It was the first time either of them had lost a comrade, and as harsh as the shinobi world was, it wouldn't be the last. As much as he hated seeing children going through such struggles, having others to share the pain with would only help them cope better in the long run. Inoichi found himself willing to disregard a little hand holding under these circumstances... But if it happened again in the future, the T&I Jonin may just have to have some words with the young Jinchuriki.

"So!" Ino clapped her hands together, standing in front of a wide variety of flowers, their mixed and fragrant scents practically overloading Naruto's sensitive nose. He sneezed into the crook of his elbow before his attention snapped to Ino, who had a gleam in her eyes at the chance to teach Naruto about some of the finer skills in life. "With floral arrangements, each individual flower has its own meaning and – when combined with other flowers – can sometimes have additional meanings. Roses are obviously a symbol of love, but the color of the rose can matter as well – a red rose is for passionate love, while a white rose is for purity, or a yellow one is for friendship, and so on, and so forth!" The long-haired blonde practically bounced in place as she explained the basics, and Naruto listened attentively, a stark contrast to how he paid attention during lectures in the Academy.

After several more minutes of explaining, Ino let Naruto begin to pick out his choices for the arrangement. Remembering her advice that too many flowers could make the arrangement "noisy and confusing," Naruto debated heavily over each one before he picked it, but eventually decided on five different ones that he found beautiful. It was a silly way to pick them out, but they just felt right when Naruto examined them for a few moments, and he dismissed his worries after a few moments.

Returning to Ino, he told her his choices a bit shyly, glancing down at the floor as he spoke. He had decided on a few vibrant blue flowers that he saw, light red carnations, something called hydrangeas that actually faded from blue to a purple, /very/ pretty white lilacs, and then, of course, a few cherry blossoms to finish it up. As he detailed his picks to Ino her eyes widened a little – it was doubtful that Naruto knew the meaning of every individual flower, but just from glancing quickly at them she already knew it was going to be a gorgeous arrangement, and the felt a pang of sympathetic pain in her chest. For someone she had previously dismissed as a class clown, Naruto was showing that there was a lot more to him than met the eye.

She thought over each flower for a moment before nodding her head approvingly."Those will definitely work, Naruto. You made some really good picks here. Are you sure you haven't done this before?" She asked, a teasing smirk on her face. "The blue flowers typically mean tranquility and peace; The carnations – the light red ones you picked – symbolize admiration, which, yeah. The hydrangeas have a few different meanings, but in this context, it just emphasizes the meaning of the other flowers as sincerely heartfelt. The lilacs mean youthful innocence, and I'm guessing you picked the cherry blossoms because they're her namesake..." At Naruto's sheepish nod, she smiled warmly and continued. "But they can also mean a few different things as well. A symbol of hope, as well as the fragility of life, or the celebration of life... Overall, Naruto, I gotta say, I don't think I could have picked out a more appropriate bunch. They express how you felt about Sakura, they flow together rather nicely, and they aren't too flashy or noisy – which is surprising, coming from you."

They both chuckled at that, a matching, bittersweet smile on both of their faces.

"Now, you did pick out a lot of our exotic flowers, though, so they're gonna be a bit pricy..." Naruto shrugged at that, removing Gama-chan from his pocket. The little frog wallet was bulging with coins and folded cash – from his savings and the pay of the last mission.

"Price isn't an issue." He said, nodding his head firmly. "It's the least I can do..." He added, after a moment, a dark look crossing over his expression before quickly fading. Ino nodded, saying nothing, and led him to the counter to take care of the payment.

"I'll have the arrangement ready for you by tomorrow. You can come by the store in the morning to pick it up – I should be here, but if not, Daddy will be able to take care of it for you as well." Naruto nodded, handing over the payment to Ino – whose eyes widened noticeably at the sight of all the cash stuffed into that frog wallet – before he turned to leave. Before he left, he turned back to Ino and offered her a radiant smile, bright blue eyes shining with a genuine happiness for the first time in several days. "Thanks for helping me out and not teasing me too much, Ino-chan! I really appreciate it!" With that, he was gone, and Ino found herself smiling fondly with a hint of a blush on her face. As the bell on the door rang once more, Ino quickly deposited the money in the cash register, and hurried off to the back to get to work. She wasn't going to disappoint Naruto – even if he didn't immediately see the meaning behind the flowers, Ino certainly did, and it wouldn't be right if she didn't put every ounce of effort into ensuring that it was the perfect arrangement for him.

Inoichi watched as his dear daughter bustled off to work, and made a mental note that yes, he was definitely going to have a talk with the young Naruto. Even if it was only to offer the boy a job; He certainly did have an eye for flowers, it seemed. It definitely wouldn't be to keep a closer eye on him and ensure that he had no unsavory intentions towards his own beautiful flower.

Once more, the chime of the bell hanging from the door broke him from his thoughts, and Inoichi looked up to see none other than Uchiha Sasuke walking into the shop. The raven-haired Genin glanced around briefly before he made his way to the counter, greeting Inoichi with a formal nod.

"Good evening, Sasuke-san. Can I help you with anything, today?" Inoichi had an idea of what the Uchiha would ask for, given he had just assisted the Genin's teammate not ten minutes previously.

"I would like to order two arrangements." He said, hesitating for just a slight second longer than normal. Inoichi nodded his head and wrote down the order.

"The usual for the both of them, or?" He asked, speaking in a kind tone. A flicker of consideration crossed over Sasuke's face before he shook his head.

"Just for one. Could you make the centerpiece for the second one a cherry blossom, Yamanaka-san?" The question was simple enough, but they both knew the significance of it. Inoichi smiled sadly and nodded his head, writing a quick receipt before passing it over the counter to Sasuke.

"We can do that." He said, depositing the cash in the register and returning Sasuke's change to him. "They'll be ready by tomorrow morning. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

It was an innocent question, but also one that Inoichi had asked Sasuke each time he came into his shop. Many Yamanaka worked at the hospitals as psychologists or therapists, and Inoichi specifically had been assigned to Sasuke after the Uchiha Massacre. The blond had a vested interest in the Genin, even after he was declared 'stable' and no longer in need of therapy sessions. Usually, the Uchiha would dismiss him without a second thought, but this time there was a hint of a pause in those dark eyes.

"No. But, thank you, Inoichi-san." It was still a dismissal, but it was a much more empathetic one than the times before, Inoichi noted. Perhaps teaming him with Naruto hadn't been such a bad idea in hindsight – the two were a positive influence on each other, with Naruto bringing Sasuke out of his shell, and Sasuke acting as a balancing force upon the hyperactive blond.

"You're quite welcome, Sasuke-san." The two exchanged a brief farewell, and Sasuke left the shop, leaving Inoichi once more alone in the store front with nothing but his thoughts and the sound of Ino working in the back room. It would be closing time soon, but the two would be working well into the evening. Sasuke and Naruto aside, the remaining entirety of the Rookie Nine had also stopped by throughout the past day or two, for either much similar reasons or to visit Ino. The blonde was managing to keep herself busy to control her grief, and was coping well enough all things considered, but Inoichi could still hear the soft sobbing that came from her room the first night the news became public knowledge. The division into teams had distanced the Genin from one another slightly, but it was difficult to completely break bonds that had been built up over years of schooling and friendship. At the very least, they were still there for one another despite the separation, and none of them would be grieving entirely alone.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

Sunlight streamed through Naruto's parted curtains, rousing him from his restless sleep. He groaned and rolled over, shaking himself awake. A glance at the clock revealed he woke up a half hour before he had set his alarm. He sighed heavily, sitting with his feet dangling over the edge of the bed, toes brushing the shockingly-cold wooden floor. The chill worked better than any cup of coffee or tea ever would.

He knew he wasn't going to be able to get any more sleep in, and there were more productive things to do than sit in bed. A clone popped into existence with an almost negligent handseal, making his way to the small kitchenette to start a quick breakfast. His appetite was nonexistent, but he knew he needed the sustenance.

The original blond hopped off the mattress and, ignoring the shiver that the cool floor sent along his spine, languidly went through his morning routine. By the time he had finished brushing his teeth he was wide awake, but the hyperactive blond still moved with a listlessness that ill suited him. He sat down at the small table and hung his head over the bowl of cup ramen – with fresh vegetables and leftover seared meats added in – breathing in the fragrant steam that wafted from the surface.

For some reason, ramen didn't smell nearly as amazing as it usually did.

Naruto wiped away the tears that had formed at the corners of his eyes and snapped his chopsticks apart, eating the ramen with mechanical motions and drinking down the salty broth when he was finished. He tossed the bowl into the sink, stood, and made his way back to his bedroom, looking down at where he had laid out his clothes the night before. Black funeral attire.

He wasn't sure how long he stood there, but the alarm suddenly blaring snapped him out of his reverie, a hand darting down to where his kunai pouch would normally be before he realized that he was still in his pajamas. A few heavy steps brought him close enough to turn off the alarm with a practiced motion.

After, he quickly changed, and left his apartment. The memory of his clone cleaning up and locking the door a few minutes after he left provided a welcome disruption of the increasingly morbid path his thoughts were taking, and he sucked in a deep breath, blowing it out through his nostrils, before he stepped out of the apartment building and into the sunny streets below.

The sun was far too bright today. The skies were clear, with barely any clouds drifting sleepily along an ocean of blue. The cool of the morning was being quickly dissipated by the rays of light, leaving the dark fabric Naruto was clad in irritatingly warm as they soaked in more of the heat.

The universe had a sick sense of humor, Naruto decided then and there.

He walked along the increasingly busy streets of Konoha, keeping his eyes trained on the ground before, slightly unfocused. He caught the glances people sent at him out of his peripheral vision, far too observant and used to their looks and words to not see them, but also far too used to them to take any notice.

Which is why he completely missed the suspicious glances and hostile whispers that followed his presence, more accusing and damning than they ever had been since he had graduated from the Academy.

He finally looked up when he reached the Yamanaka Flower Shop, and was shocked to see Sasuke standing across the street from him, looking to be heading in the same direction as he was. They met in the middle of the street and Naruto offered him a lackluster greeting, waving a hand towards him.

"Yo, Sasuke."

The Uchiha nodded his head in acknowledgment, seeming to deliberate for several long moments before he spoke. "It's too bright out."

Naruto tilted his head to the side, a strange combination of amusement, vindication, and sorrow flickering across his eyes, before he simply nodded his head as well. "It really is." He said, before the two of them entered the flower shop together.

The bell chimed, and Ino emerged from the back room after a moment, dressed in a similar garb to her male counterparts. She forced out a small smile, even though it came out as a pained grimace, the redness of her eyes and the irregular pattern of her breathing tactfully ignored by the others.

"I, uh, just finished putting the final touches on your arrangements." She said after a moment of uncertainty, glancing between Naruto and Sasuke. The two had a reputation for being heated rivals – albeit the heated part being completely one-directional – but seeing the side by side... Well, given what had happened, it was no surprise that they seemed much more comfortable with one another.

Shaking her head, Ino quickly went to the back and returned with two beautiful flower arrangements, placing them on the counter. Naruto glanced questioningly at Sasuke, looking like he was about to speak, before he closed his mouth with an audible sound. He turned his attention to Ino and gave her a small smile, instead, stepping closer to examine the arrangements.

His was the one on the right, with a distinct, but not unpleasant contrast of colors. On the edge of the arrangement was the white lilies, sporadically placed to accent the interior ring of blue formed by the smaller azure flowers. Within those were the hydrangeas, their blue-to-purple gradient melding almost perfectly with the blue flowers on the outer layer.

The light red carnations were interspersed with with the hydrangeas, encompassing the actual center of the arrangement, the cherry blossoms. The dark centers of the tiny flowers provided enough contrast for them to pop out on their own, but the gradual shift in hues from blue to purple to red to pink made the colors stand out all the more.

Naruto's arrangement was bright, vivid, and full of different textures that melded together almost perfectly – thanks to Ino's skill at her art. The blossoms were spaced just enough to allow them to meld together, while maintaining their individual textures and appearance. The arrangement drew the gaze inward naturally, but didn't prevent one from pausing to appreciate each separate flower on its own.

Sasuke's arrangement, on the left, was just as stunning, but its style was completely different. Where Naruto's was beautiful in its vibrancy, its contrast, Sasuke's was elegant and refined. Midnight purple, almost black queen of the night tulips encircled the base of the arrangement, allowing a smooth transition into a ring of blue flowers – the same breed as Naruto's, in fact.

The ring of blue flowers surrounded a third ring comprised of purple orchids, elegantly spaced out and almost cradling the centerpiece of the whole arrangement: a bouquet of cherry blossoms, the rich colors surrounding them providing a breathtaking background to the lighter tones of the cherry blossoms. Whereas Naruto's arrangement was a gradual shift in colors, Sasuke's was an abrupt change – the dark, intense colors suddenly giving way to a bright and vivid presence, the contrasting elements making one another stand out all the more because of it.

"Wow, Ino-chan..." Naruto murmured, taking a step back to examine both of the arrangements as a whole. "Both of them look great! You did an amazing job!" Naruto beamed, dulled sapphire eyes lighting up with the rest of his expression. His smile quickly faded, but the appreciation for the effort Ino put into each arrangement remained. Ino smiled softly herself, a faint blush tinting her cheeks at the compliment.

When Sasuke nodded his head thoughtfully and admitted, "They are quite beautiful," that faint blush turned into a fiery reddening of her face that would have put Hinata to shame, and it took Ino several moments to compose herself before she haughtily proclaimed.

"Well, I do know what I'm doing, you know. But I appreciate the compliments."

She still hadn't fully gotten over her crush on Sasuke, but she had come to terms with the absurdity of it compared to the importance of their role as shinobi – even as Genin. It was still with a bit of hesitation that she asked to accompany the two of them to the funeral service. At their mutual nods, she produced a pair of sealing tags, and skillfully sealed the two arrangements and passed them to their respective owners. "It's easier to carry that way." She explained with a shrug, making her way towards the door. She flipped the sign to 'Closed' and stepped outside, the two boys following after her.

Ino wrinkled her nose as she looked around, glancing up at the clear skies with a hint of disgust before turning her attention to the street before them. They walked in silence most of the way, a companionable if downtrodden quiet, already feeling like the beginning of a funeral procession with every step closer to where the funeral was actually going to be held.

It was a short time before noon, when the service would begin, and thus far only the shinobi portion of the attendees had arrived. The entirety of the Rookie Nine was in the front row, with their respective teachers sitting behind them. Naruto and Sasuke joined the ranks and Ino bade them both farewell before joining Shikamaru and Choji, the latter offering a sad wave and the former a solemn nod. She offered a slightly strained smile in return – even more so now that they were standing before the casket that would soon be lowered into the earth.

Naruto shifted restlessly as more and more people joined, the civilian populace beginning to trickle in as well as the late arrivals from the shinobi force. The civilian portion was predominantly from the Haruno clan, or close friends of the clan, but some joined simply to pay their respects to a fallen shinobi of Konoha, or offer kind words to those more directly affected.

As the sun reached its apex, signifying noon, the sound of light footsteps preceded the arrival of the Sandaime Hokage. The elderly shinobi was dressed in full Hokage garb, his hat tilted up to expose his face, where a mournful, but steely gaze flickered over each attendee. He stepped before the casket and turned to face the civilian and shinobi attendees, flanked by a member of ANBU on his left and right – and doubtlessly more in the trees and surrounding area.

Sarutobi Hiruzen breathed in deep, and released it slowly through his nose, spreading his hands open wide.

"Being a shinobi is a dangerous life. It is fickle, it is often times fleeting, but it is a duty that few have the courage or strength to take up. That is why when, in dark times such as these, we must rely on the strength of others where our own may fail. Konoha was founded on the idea that we as a whole are greater than the sum of our parts. Our comrades, our brothers and sisters, our family in blood and in bond, that is what fans and fuels the Will of Fire."

Sarutobi's voice rang out over the crowd, a powerful, deep baritone, made rough with age but made soft with the sheer sorrow that bled through.

"That is why we gather here today to mourn the loss of one of our own. Haruno Sakura was a beautiful young lady, but she was also a shinobi of Konoha. She, like many before her, held within her the Will of Fire. She, like many before her, fueled the flames of her comrades, her family, and her friends. When such a flame is snuffed out so young, there are few words that can express the nature of such a tragedy."

He bowed his head, pausing for just a moment to let his words sink in.

"Therefore, I will offer no more words than such: Seek comfort in your brethren. Seek solace where it can be found, and the pain will dull. It will never truly fade, but it would be a disservice to Sakura to remember her solely for her death. Remember her for her life, for the flame that burned within her, as an embodiment of the Will of Fire. Cherish the moments you had with her, and so long as you remember her, she will never truly die. And as she is returned to the earth from which Konoha came forth, know that her fire shall burn on in each of you."

The speech ended, as abruptly as it had began, and silence pervaded the world. A single moment passed, and the sounds of nature began to assert themselves once more. As though a spell was broken, the Hokage lowered his hat and stepped to the side, allowing Sakura's family to approach the casket. They placed flowers and spoke in hushed tones for a few moments, mother and father both resting their hands upon the sun-warmed wood of the casket, before stepping away and letting tear-streaked faces glance back at the crowds before returning to their place.

They both locked eyes with Naruto and Sasuke, and although no words were spoken, barely any gestures made, something passed between them. Sakura's mother and father both nodded, their expressions more sorrowful and empathetic than anything else. They knew better than to place the blame on them – they were only children, themselves. That did little to curb the pain of losing a daughter, but the Sandaime said to take solace with one another, and perhaps that acknowledgment would help the two boys and their sensei find their own peace.

Naruto, Sasuke, and the remainder of the Rookie Nine were next. Kakashi took the lead, with Naruto and Sasuke following behind him, and then the remainder of the teams. Silently, Kakashi leaned down and placed a small silver bell on the memorial, before he turned and stepped to the side.

Naruto followed after him, blinking away the tears that blurred his vision, but making no move to wipe away those that continued to streak down his face, leaving salty trails over tanned and whiskered cheeks. He unsealed the floral arrangement – the specially-constructed seals barely making any smoke or noise – and placed it at the foot of the casket.

"I'm... I'm so sorry, Sakura-chan... But, I'm going to get stronger. I'll keep Kakashi-sensei and Sasuke-teme in line and next time we fight someone, they won't know what hit 'em. A-And I'll protect the village, even if the villagers are idiots sometimes, and once I'm Hokage... I'll make sure all of us are as strong as we can be, together, and something like this will never happen again..."

He spoke in hushed, broken whispers, fighting back tears as he bowed his head over the casket. He twitched as he felt a hand on his shoulder, glancing back to see Sasuke offering him a slightly-less-neutral expression, his dark eyes alight with understanding and equal sorrow. It was the most emotion he had ever seen on the Uchiha's face, and he bit back a sob, instead gritting his teeth and nodding his head. He squeezed Sasuke's shoulder in return and slowly straightened, stepping away from the casket and turning to return to his place.

"Hey! Why is the demon here?!" Cried out one of the villagers – a distant relative to the Haruno family, one that Naruto immediately recognized as one of the shopkeepers that refused to sell to him. Naruto reeled back as if struck, and out of the corner of his eyes he saw the Hokage stiffen, eyes turning flinty as they zoned in on the villager. The man responsible was immediately cowed by the force of the Sandaime's gaze alone, but that didn't stop the seed of doubt that those shouted words had planted.

"Yeah! He shouldn't be allowed here! He probably caused it all to happen!" Shouted another, emboldened by the first's. Their voice was joined by another, while ANBU rushed to silence them, the Hokage barking out orders and commanding civilians and shinobi alike to stand down.

Naruto had stumbled back as they began to shout, eyes widening, pupils nearly disappearing. He tripped and caught himself on the edge of the memorial, but the motion sent his arrangement tumbling over. He glanced quickly over as it fell and missed the blur of a rock hurtling towards him.

Sasuke, however, did not. Naruto's gaze snapped back to attention as he saw Sasuke lunge, catching the rock just moments before it struck him. Naruto saw the Uchiha's knuckles turning white as he gripped the stone, visibly resisting the urge to return the favor. The ANBU were pushing the civilians back, while the Rookie Nine stepped forward, joining ranks with Sasuke and Kakashi.

Naruto, hidden behind them, growled with sudden anger – anger at the villagers' blind discrimination, anger at the loss of one of his closest friends, anger at everything. Both Sasuke and Kakashi's heads whipped around to peer at him, and witnessed Naruto stepping forward, clenching his fists, killing intent rolling off his form. Naruto saw red in those few moments where he broke the ranks of the shinobi, moving to face the villagers directly. He visibly calmed himself, clamping down on his fury, before looking up at them with an entirely-human snarl.

Hiruzen moved to approach Naruto, but paused after a step, something in his gut telling him to let Naruto continue. He certainly wasn't disappointed.

"And you people call me the demon?!" He yelled, voice booming out over the sound of the crowd before him - the blond showing exactly why one of the most common insults thrown towards him in class was "loudmouth."

"Yeah, I pranked a couple of the grumpy old farts in the market, but they deserved it! They were treating me like shit before I ever stepped into their stores! What the hell did I ever do to you?" Before someone could speak up, he continued, voice somehow growing even louder.

"And don't even think about saying what I know you're all thinking! Do I look like a bigass ball of fur to you?! I'm TWELVE! You're abusing and assaulting a CHILD! AT HIS FRIEND'S FUNERAL!"

His voice cracked, and Naruto fell to his knees, sobbing openly now. Sasuke, Kakashi, and Ino rushed to his side immediately, while the rest of the Rookie Nine took their place before him, the combined presence of ANBU, the genin, and their teachers quite effectively silencing the crowd.

"I-I'm not the fox..." Naruto whispered between hiccups, uncaring of the presence of everyone else around him. Kakashi and Sasuke's eyes widened – for entirely separate, but quite similar reasons – and those in the Rookie Nine who heard him bore similar expressions, or non-expressions, of shock.

The Sandaime, however, was stepping quickly forward, the crowd parting like water to the force that was The Professor. If Naruto had been loud, Sarutobi Hiruzen was the embodiment of divine wrath.

"Have you no respect?! Have you no sense of decency?! Today is a day for mourning – not for petty, misplaced revenge! Each and every one of you is a disappointment to what the Shodai, the Nidaime, and yes, the Yondaime Hokage lived and died for! Return to your homes willingly or be escorted, but I will have order in my village, and you will be taught to show proper respect when it is due!"

The Sandaime seemed to tower above them all, yet stood no higher than before, his eyes burning and his voice booming across what seemed like the entirety of Konoha. Within minutes, the crowd had dispersed, and Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly turned to face those remaining. He rushed to Naruto's side and knelt before him, running his calloused hands along his back, cradling the young boy close. The blond buried his face against his robes, clinging to him like a lifeline, his sobs beginning to slow and his breathing beginning to calm after a few long, agonizing moments.

"I-I'm sorry, Jiji... This was supposed to be about remembering S-Sakura, and I..." He trailed off, biting down on his tongue to prevent another whimper. Hiruzen's chest ached, and he suppressed an unconscious spike of killing intent, anger bubbling within him at how the villagers had treated Naruto... And at how little he had actually done towards preventing them from treating him that way.

"You have absolutely nothing to apologize for, Naruto-kun. Now, sleep."

And Naruto did.

Ooooooooooooooooooooooo

A/N:

Ha-ha, semi-cliffhangers.

So, after quite some time, I'm back with another chapter! It's been finished for a short time now, I say with some regret, but the proofreading process took a little longer (and was just completed at the time of writing this note) because I had to step away to get a fresh perspective and got caught up with school and work in the process. Here it is, though, at the beginning of an all new month. I said it wasn't going to be abandoned, did I not?

So, the Wave Arc is officially concluded, as is the aftermath of it. We'll see where things go from here, but I do have a few ideas, as well as the overall plan for the story in mind, so. We'll get there eventually, we may just wander off the beaten path a few times in the process.

I'm aware that the final scene may seem a bit overdramatic or out of character for how the civilians may have acted compared to the anime/manga, but it's been a while since I've read either and I'm taking some artistic liberties with how people react to traumatic events. If it does seem /too/ much and someone offers valid points in a review, I'll be more than happy to reconsider or do some tweaking, but as it is, that's how it's going to be.

Most likely, this story is going to be under almost constant revision / tweaking. I have big plans for it, but because I'm terrible at keeping outlines and updating regularly, it'll require a lot of retconning to make sure everything lines up smoothly. So, if there's any discrepancies or plot holes, feel free to let me know. I'll make sure I mention in the following chapters if I've gone back to edit the previous ones, or just post a short A/N chapter if need be.

But I believe that is all for this time around, so as always, see you next time, and please review!